Adjustable shelf



Jan. 6. 1925.

P. MOTT ADJUSTABLE SHELF Filed Nov. 17', 1923 Patented Jan. 6, 1925.

*iTED SAES oF'FiE.

, ADJUSTABLE SHELF.

Application filed November 17, 1923. Serial No. 675,272.

To all whomit may concern.

Be it known that I, PEROIYAL Mor'r, a citizen of the United States, residing in Norton, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Shelves, for which the following is a full and complete specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention is an adjustable shelf, particularly designed for use in a window, the shelf being adjustable in length so that it will lit windows of various sizes.

One of the important features of the improved shelf is that it locks itself in place in the window without the use of screws, bolts, nails or similar attaching devices that would tend to disfigure the woodwork around 'a window. Furthermore, this locking of the shelf is effected by gravity, that is, by the weight of the shelf itself. The shelf is simply placedin position, and stays there, by reason of the engagement of the supporting elements of the shelf with vertical and horizontal portions of the window.

Asecond important feature of the shelf is that it comprises only two movable parts, these parts being the two telescoping parts of the shelf ledge; a supporting bracket is fixed to each end of these telescoping sections.

Another improved feature of the shelf is that the brackets support the top surface of the ledge of the shelf fiuslrwith the top horizontal surface of the top-of the window sash, so that the one supplements the other and gives a supporting surface as wide as the combined widths of the two.

Still another improved feature of theshelf.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section, taken on the line 4it of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an end view of one of the supirting brackets Fig. 6 is an end view of one of the telescoping sections with the bracket removed shelf are preferably metal, such as brass, the

ledge or bottom portion of the shelf consists of two telescoping sect-ions l and 2; thelongitudinal edges of each section are bent down and then up to form vertically disposed telescoping flanges 3, which serve to strengthen and stiffen the shelf very materially.

A box-like end is formed on the end of each of the sections 1 and 2 by bending in wardly a pair of flaps 5, and then folding downwardly thereover a tongue '6, the metal being suitably slitted to define such flaps and tongue. This box end with its several layers of metal-here shown at five-gives strength to the shelf at a vital point, for it is at this point that the supporting brackets 7 are attached to the shel i A supporting bracket 7 comprises a vertical plate the lower portion of which is secured to a box end of a telescoping ledge portion 1 or 2, by securing devices 8.

At the upper, rear part of the supporting bracket is an outwardly extending gripping lug 9 provided with a vertical bearing face 10 facing toward the front of the shelf. This lug is adapted to engage behind one of the vertical elements .11 of a window frame, and to resist an outward or lateral pull.

At the lower, rear portion of the bracket are provided bearing surfaces 12 and 13 respectively, formed by cutting a notch 14 in the bracket; surface 12 supports most of the weight of the shelf, and-is at a level so as to support the top of the shelf flush with'the top of the horizontal sash 15 of the window, whereby the/two top surfaces supplement each other and give a supporting surface equal to the combined width of the Hit) two, as shown in d. Surface 13 hears the brackets 7 is provided with a horizon-- thus disengaging lugs 9, or by lifting one.

end through an are, as in Fig. 2, thus disengaging lugs 9; it may be put in place by reversing these operations.

In order to use the shelf on a window sill which is considerably wider than a sash, supplementary plates may be used, and are attached to the window frame to provide en agement for the gripping lugs 9. Each or these plates is provided with an. aperture 26 for the reception of a lug 9, and with-a screw hole 27 for reception of an attaching screw 28. In operation notch 14 engages over the edge of the. window sill 29 (see the lower part of 'Fig. 1) and "lugs 9 engage in holes 26.

While the preferred material for the shelf is metal, such as brass, aluminum or steel,

other materials might be used. Furthermore, it should be understood that this disclosure of a preferred embodiment ofthe invention is illustrative only, and that the inventive idea involved may be carried out in other ways than by the exact structural details shown and described. I claim as my invention:

, 1. A window shelf comprising telescoping ledge portions, an end bracket fixed to the outer end of each ledge portion, the

' brackets beingmovable back and forth with the ledge portions as they telescope, a notch at the lower inner end of each bracket for engaging over a horizontally extending edge portion of a window, and an outwardly extending lug at the upper end of each bracket for engaging behind a vertical element of a window frame, whereby a. shelf comprisingonly two parts is formed, which is adjustable to fit different sized windows,

. which may be removed by simply lifting it which is locked in place by gravity, and

from the window.

2. An adjustable shelf comprising flanged telescoping ledge portions formed with box like ends, end brackets, each having a fiat inner side, which flat side is secured against a box-1ike end of the ledge portion, each bracket being movable back and forth with its ledge as it telescopes, a lug carried by the outer side of each bracket for engaging behind a vertical element of a window frame, and a notch at the lower, inner end of each bracket for seating on a horizontally extending portion of a window.

3. An adjustable shelf comprising substantially flat telescoping members provided with downwardly extending telescoping flanges, whereby to form a flat ledge portion with stiffening ribs extending lengthwise thereof and extending downwardly therefrom, a bracket secured to the outer end of each telescoping member and movable back and forth with it, and means carried by the bracket forengaging with horiledge portion and movable back and forth with it, a notch and a lug formed at the lower and upper parts, respectively, of each bracket, and plates, normally permanently secured to the window frame, provided with means for detachably engaging with the lugs on the upper parts of the brackets, whereby the shelf may be locked in place by gravity by engaging said notch over a horizontally extending portion of a win: dow frame, and by engaging the lugs with said plates, and may be removed by lifting on the shelf without disturbing the plates.

5. An adjustable window shelf comprising in combination substantially flat telescoping members provided with down wardly extending telescoping flanges, whereby there is formed a ledge the upper surface of which is fiat, while the telescoping flanges act as stiffening ribs, and a bracket secured to .the end of each of the telescoping members and extending well above the top surface of the ledge, said brackets serving to keep articles from falling off the end of the shelf, each bracket having a notch at its inner, lower part for engaging over a horizontally extending edge of a window frame and also having a ing extending outwardly therefrom, for engaging behind a vertical element of a window frame, where by the shelf may be locked in place in a window by gravity f In testimony whereof, 'I have hereunto afiixed my signature. 

